Existentialism Essays (512 words) - Philosophy, Literature

Existentialism Existentialism is a concept that became popular during the second World War in France, and just after it. French playrights have often used the stage to express their views, and these views came to surface even during a Nazi occupation. Bernard Shaw got his play "Saint Joan" past the German censors because it appeared to be very Anti-British. French audiences however immediately understood the real meaning of the play, and replaced the British with the Germans. Those sorts of "hidden meanings" were common throughout the period so that plays would be able to pass censorship. Existentialism proposes that man is full of anxiety and despare with no meaning in his life, just simply existing, until he made decisive choice about his own future. That is the way to achieve dignity as a human being. Existentialists felt that adopting a social or political cause was one way of giving purpose to a life. Sartre is well known for the "Theatre engage" or Theatre 'commited', which is supposedly commited to social and/or political action. On of the major playwrights during this period was Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre had been imprisoned in Germany in 1940 but managed to escape, and become one of the leaders of the Existential movement. Other popular playwrights were Albert Camus, and Jean Anouilh. Just like Anouilh, Camus accidentally became the spokesman for the French Underground when he wrote his famous essay, "Le Mythe de Sisyphe" or "The Myth of Sisyphus". Sisyphus was the man condemned by the gods to roll a rock to the top of a mountain, only to have it roll back down again. For Camus, this related heavily to everyday life, and he saw Sisyphus an "absurd" hero, with a pointless existance. Camus felt that it was necessary to wonder what the meaning of life was, and that the human being longed for some sense of clarity in the world, since "if the world were clear, art would not exist". "The Myth of Sisyphus" became a prototype for existentialism in the theatre, and eventually The Theatre of the Absurd. Right after the Second World War, Paris became the theatre capital of the west, and popularized a new form of surrealistic theatre called "Theatre of the Absurd". Many historians contribute the sudden popularity of absurdism in France to the gruesome revelations of gas chambers and war atrocities coming out of Germany after the war. The main idea of The Theatre of the Absurd was to point out man's helplessness and pointless existance in a world without purpose. As Richard Coe described it "It is the freedom of the slave to crawl east along the deck of a boat going west". Two of the most popular playwrights of this time include Samuel Beckett, who's most famous piece was "Waiting for Godot", and Eugene Ioensco with "Exit the King". Most absurdist plays have no logical plot. The absense of the plot pushes an emphasis on proving the pointless existance of man. Quite often, such plays reveal the human condition at it's absolute worst. Absurdist playwrites often used such techniques as symbolism, mime, the circus, and the commedia dell'arte, which are quite evident in the more popular plays of the time, such as Waiting for Godot, The Bald Prima Donna, and Amedee.

Chronology in Death of a Salesman †English Essay (100 Level Course)

Chronology in Death of a Salesman – English Essay (100 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Chronology in Death of a Salesman English Essay (100 Level Course) Arthur Miller uses irregular chronological sequencing to convey themes to the reader effectively. Strategically placed flashbacks help to explain what Willy is feeling and why he is struggling in life now. These flashbacks give the reader insight to the past that has caused his troubled present. In addition, they serve to illustrate Willy’s mental breakdown caused by a hard-fought life. Willy expresses his idea of the â€Å"American Dream† throughout the play. His idea is that success will magically descend upon those who wait for it. In other words, success is not measured by hard work and perseverance and you cannot earn it, it has to find you and decide that â€Å"it† will make you successful. Willy displays this to Biff his entire life and now Biff cannot work for anyone. Biff tells this to Willy at the end of the play. The reader sees Willy have flashbacks earlier in the book to when Biff was still a quarterback for his school. He fills Biff’s head with fantasies about being well liked and successful, but ignores the fact presented by Bernard that Biff is failing math and could possibly not graduate because of it. Yet, Willy even goes so far as to convince him not to go to summer school after he fails math. The flashback to the time this occurs aids the reader in being able to understand why Biff is unsuccessful now. Without it, on e might speculate and perceive the problem differently, being caused by different reasons. The sequencing is integral to the storyline because it shows the reader why a problem is happening the way it is after the problem is identified. Another way that flashbacks assist the reader is the way they tell the prequel to the story during the actual storyline. These flashbacks are broken up and dispersed throughout the play and make their appearances at their respective times. This helps to show major themes of the play by giving better explanation to the messages be given to the reader by way of the problems and situations facing the characters. For example, Willy’s flashback of Ben’s visit and the constant visions of him show that Willy’s own flashbacks serve to reinforce his distorted view of how to be successful and live life. Many times when he was in doubt, he imagined Ben telling him of how he walked into the jungle and walked back out a rich man. Willy convinced himself that this would happen to him if he were patient enough. This caused Willy to ignore reality and try to live out a fantasy in the unforgiving real world. In all, putting the background in with the storyline helped to sh ow more effectively how and why the many problems presented in the book occurred. Research Papers on Chronology in Death of a Salesman - English Essay (100 Level Course)Mind TravelThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is ArtHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Capital PunishmentThe Masque of the Red Death Room meanings19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Contemporary Issues in Western Religions Research Paper

Contemporary Issues in Western Religions - Research Paper Example The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Islam is based on monotheism, like Christianity and Judaism, and Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) is believed to be the last prophet. The concept of worship in Islam is that every act can be considered an act of worshipping if it does done the way Allah has commanded His believers to. Apart from that, there are also five pillars of Islam, which are compulsory for every Muslim. These are ‘Kalima Tayyaba’ the authentication of faith, five prayers a day, fasting, Almsgiving or Zakaat, and pilgrimage called Hajj (once in a lifetime). As contrary to what is portrayed, Islam is not an extremist religion. It does not teach the followers to submit themselves completely either to the religion or to the worldly affairs, but to take a middle road between them and take care of their worldly matters in accordance to the religion. Islam, Judaism and Christianity are called Abrahamic religions. Islam is theologically and historically conne cted to other Monotheist religions Judaism and Christianity. To Muslims, Jews and Christians are ‘People of The Book’ and are respected for it. Belief in Injil (The Gospel of Jesus) is very important to Muslims, and Jewish history is taught in Islam as its own (ReligionFacts, 2012). But still Muslims believe that Jews and Christians have incorrect beliefs based on incomplete revelations. Jews believe that Islam and Christianity are wrongly interpreted extended forms of Judaism. Christians consider Judaism as a religion with partial revelation but consider Islam to be a false religion. Islam and Christianity were originated in the same geographical location, in the Middle East. Islam was founded in 622 CE in Arabia and Christianity in 33 CE in Palestine. Even though both Islam and Christianity believe in monotheism, Christian’s belief is slightly different. They believe in Trinity Monotheism which divides God into three sanctified persons and Jesus as the son of G od. Muslims however believe that Jesus’ birth was a miracle and Mary was a Virgin yet they do not believe that Jesus is the son of God and that is considered as a Shirk in Islam. In spite of this both believe in one God. The other spiritual entities in Islam and Christianity are angels and demons (and Jinns in Muslims). The humans who preach their respective religions are called prophets in Islam and Saints in Christianity. Regarding Jesus Muslims believe that he is a true prophet of God and his teachings were misinterpret, Jesus did not die but his spirit got lifted to the heavens and that he will be come again but can not be resurrected as he did not die In the first place. Christians believe that Jesus died when he was being crucified and then rose from the dead after three days and after resurrection and is believed to come back on the Day of Judgment. Holy revelations were through prophets and compiled into the Holy Quran in Islam and into the Holy Bible in Christianity. According to Islam, humans have the ability to do bad as well as good whereas in Christianity it is believed that man tends to be attracted by evil by nature. In Islam escape from hell is achieved by doing good actions and having true beliefs as well as by maintaining and upholding the Five Pillars of Islam. In Christianity salvation can be achieved by having true beliefs, and through performing sacraments. Wrongdoers will go to eternal hell and good people will go an eternal heaven in both Islam and Christianity. Islam and Judaism are also similar in theology and history. Like Islam, Judaism follows strict monotheism and believes in one God and believes in angels and demons